Australia v India 3rd Test: Day four live blog, scorecard

Nathan Lyon is closing in fast on 400 Test wickets, with the struggling Indian batting line-up looking ripe for the picking on a turning fifth-day SCG pitch.

Australia's Steven Smith (R) and Marnus Labuschagne watch a replay for the Leg-Before-Wicket (LBW) appeal decision on the third day of the third cricket Test match between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney on January 9, 2021. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)

Milestone man Nathan Lyon has the chance to accelerate towards 400 Test wickets with a bang, as Australia close in on a series-shaping triumph at the SCG.

An injury-riddled India are holding on by a thread heading into the final day in Sydney, with Australia eight - or possibly seven - wickets away from taking a firm grip on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy heading into the fourth and final Test in Brisbane.

Lyon claimed 10 wickets at last year’s Sydney Test, but in the past the champion off-spinner has had a love-hate relationship with his home venue.

Just six wickets away from the 400-barrier, Lyon is yet to take a wicket this Test match after nearly 50 overs of toil, but teammates are tipping he will come into his own on a deteriorating day-five SCG wicket.

Indian ‘Wall’ Cheteshwar Pujara and captain Ajinkya Rahane are all that stands between Australia claiming a triumphant victory which threatens to break the morale of the Indians once and for all following a hot-blooded and at times nasty Test match marred by allegations of racial abuse.

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Josh Hazlewood celebrates nicking off Shubman Gill.

Rishabh Pant (elbow) and Ravindra Jadeja (thumb) may not be able to bat, and even if they do will be vulnerable to another assault from Australia’s ruthless quicks, and the victory target of 309 more to win seems an impossible distance away.

Coach Justin Langer said it loomed as a big day for Lyon, but insisted it wasn’t all on the spinner’s shoulders as he backed his attack to come home like a runaway steam train.

“It’s spinning a little bit. It’s been quite slow, too. I mentioned to all the players this morning but particularly made the point to Nathan in front of all the players, I thought he bowled particularly well in the first innings without luck,” said Langer.

“He might get a little bit more luck in the second dig. He’ll play a big part.

“But when you’ve got a bowling attack like we’ve got at the moment, I’m actually in awe of it.

“To see the way our fast bowlers are going about their business and to have Nathan Lyon (and) have a young kid called Cameron Green who can play a real role for us now and into the future, I’m in awe of our attack.

“Let’s hope they get the job done on Monday. I’d be surprised if Nathan doesn’t play a big part.”

Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon have a big role to play on day five. Picture: Saeed Khan/AFP

Steve Smith (81) and Marnus Labuschagne (73) put Australia into an almost unlosable position on day four, before rookie Green stormed in and produced the highlight of his young career so far with a brilliant 84.

Australian captain Tim Paine (39 not out) would have let Green have a crack at a maiden Test ton, before the big-hitting West Australian was caught behind off Jasprit Bumrah just short of a dream prize.

Green’s performance increased pressure on No.5 Matthew Wade (4) who failed again with a cheap dismissal.

Wade deserves to finish the series following his solid performance in the opening two Tests as an opener, but the Gabba shapes as a crucial Test for him to further cement his place in the side ahead of the Test Championship Final in June and next year’s Ashes given he’s now 33.

“He’ll be disappointed. We’re in a great position as a team in this Test match, but he’ll be disappointed personally,” said Langer.

“We have a lot of faith in Matthew Wade. That’s why he’s playing. He opened the batting in the first two Tests matches, he was selfless in that, he took on the role. I think – without cashing in - he played some good innings opening the batting.

Matthew Wade missed out in the second innings. Picture: David Gray/AFP

“In the first innings he looked absolutely a million dollars, I thought, and got out to a shot that he’d be disappointed about. He missed out today, that can happen early in any Test innings. He’ll be more disappointed than we are in him.”

Indian vice-captain Rohit Sharma (52) looked ominous in pursuit of a mammoth 407-run target after Australia declared 6-312 at tea.

But once again Pat Cummins made the key breakthrough.

“It was a bit of a relief for us to see Rohit Sharma out there at the end, that’s a huge wicket for us because we know he’s a world-class player,” said Langer.

“We know he’s one of the all-time great one-day players so if he was out there he’s going to keep scoring quickly."

Originally published as Australia v India 3rd Test: Day four live blog, scorecard

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